ATHENS, Ga. --- University of Georgia true freshman tailback Todd Gurley has been named the Southeastern Conference Co-Freshman Player of the Week following his performance versus Buffalo, according to a league announcement on Monday.
Alabama tailback T.J. Yeldon split the honor with Gurley. Gurley is the first Bulldog to earn this honor in his first collegiate game.
Gurley, a 6-1, 218-pound native of Tarboro, N.C., rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries (12.5 avg.) against the Bulls. His second career carry was a 10-yard touchdown run while his eighth and final carry resulted in a 55-yard touchdown. Gurley became the first Bulldog freshman to go over 100 yards rushing in his season-opening debut since Danny Ware versus Georgia Southern in 2004.
Gurley also recorded a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in his collegiate debut. This ties the school, SEC and NCAA records and is the fourth return of its kind in Bulldog history. He finished with 227 all-purpose yards and was named the College Football Performance Awards National Kickoff Returner of the Week.
The Bulldogs travel to Columbia, Mo., to take on Missouri on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. ET. This is the SEC opener for both schools. The game will be televised by ESPN2.